First Ever Hands-On with the 2025 Ram Ramcharger: You Won't Believe the Range!
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- ( www.alltfl.com/ ) Check out our new spot to find ALL our content, from news to videos and our podcasts! First Ever Hands-On with the 2025 Ram Ramcharger - You Won't Believe the Range with this range-ended EV pickup truck!
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#ram #ramcharger #ev
If Stellantis has engineered the Ramcarger properly, I think they will have a real winner on their hands. If you're commuting, it will run all electric, cheaply charging at home. If you're towing, it will have the EV torque with the range vastly extended by a gasoline engine / generator. If you're RVing with a travel trailer, 7.2kw at 240v is 30 amps, so it can power most everything for a very long time. This could be the best of both worlds.
Best of both worlds, indeed. Wish the 240V electrical outlet and capacity were NEMA 14-50R (50 Amp, 10 kW) like in Cybertruck.
Agreed but I think they missed the mark on this one. The engine and battery are way too big. Should have a 4 cyl and 40-60 miles of electric range
@@bobman717 Too big for some people, but not for others. Love how it has heavy-duty features such as 8 lugnuts per wheel.
Omg noooo! Why?! Its a truck not a midsize suv that tows on the weekend. It needs to capable. @bobman717
@@bobman717 At least the Pentastar is a proven engine. Hopefully it will only have to run at relatively low RPMs.
I’m not a Dodge guy, but that Ramcharger is pretty awesome! I don’t know what took the industry so long to build a series hybrid like that?
The Volt was mostly series but had the capability to add some gas engine power to the wheels if needed. It’s not clear why the industry abandoned it though.
People did not understand the technology. Also, the owners were not pluging it in which made it worse than a regular hybrid. If you plug it in than it is much better. @TJPavey
Cause it’s sounds great in theory but is stupid. You best of both worlds best also worst. Double the amount of things to go wrong. On top of that not using gas engine it’s just dead weight killing mpg likewise if battery is dead.
@nathanielthelin1051 but it might not have to be even plugged in . We dont know until its tested in the real world. It would be awesome if it never had ti be plugged in
@@agentcarderThat's like saying ICE vehicles are worthless because when the gas tank is empty they stop working.
You then need to get them towed to a gas station and if there is a power outage, you can't pump or pay for gasoline to fill the gas tank, because gas stations run on electricity. So, once again, gas vehicles are worthless.
Do you have a gas pump in your home garage. No? Worthless.
Everything on gas vehicles runs on electricity. Without electricity, they're a brick.
The literal locomotive on wheels. LOL engine - generator - motors - batteries. LOL love it (PS work for the railroad, so this hits hard)
Yup. Exactly.
Makes me wonder if there's a 2500 and 3500 in the works with insane amount of torque. Imagine those heavy duty versions 900 HP and 1400 lb/ft.
Yep!
As a Retired Locomotive Engineer I like the Principle of this, if it holds up. Just wondering what the cost is...
@@paullalonde4132 hopefully not the cost of an actual locomotive! Lol
I have owned a Chevy Volt for 7 years....this is the truck version of that.
The Volt has been Amazing. 90% of the miles are electric, 10% from the gas generator.
No range issues ever.
I've had a saved search for a Chevy volt for months now.... Nobody sells them 😂 the few that knew the brilliance and bought while they were available are clutching them close. But gm just announced they're bringing the powertrain back for 2025!!! Plug in hybrid, that is, not the volt specifically
I loved my volt, I've been kicking myself since I traded it in during covid when I just wasn't using my commuter. But I was always waiting for GM to expand on the idea and put the technology in a truck. I've always been a GM guy, but Ram has my deposit for a Ramcharger.
@@CooperCatDaily perfect.
My thoughts exactly! That is why I always thought the Volt was the perfect combination. Now it is in pickup form.
We also have a Volt. Same EV/Gas mile ranges too. But - The Volt gas motor can/does power the wheels. Seeing at this also has a 4 Lo and 4 High, I wonder if this gas engine does actually drive the wheels in certain cases.
I think this is a really compelling product. EV monday-friday weekend warrior no range worries or a business that tows daily
Stellantis/Dodge/Ram really was smart to wait to see how the competition handled the EV trend and came out on top. Definitely impressed and will be keeping a close eye on this.
This is the legit hybrid truck we want.
WE? There is no WE buddy
Ram charger is a potential game changer in the future they may configure it with different batteries as well as maybe a straight 6 for even more range payload & towing I still haven't warmed up to electric vehicles yet but I like the direction of the ram charger game changer
RAM is most popular out west and that is where the range extender will be game changing. One of the advantages of bringing a product a bit late and seeing where the other brands are leaving gaps in the needs of buyers.
Likely to give good results and sell well
I really hope this plays out to be as good as it can be. I own both a Power Wagon and a Model S. I would sell both for this, and it would be perfect for me every day and for family trips/camping.
Hopefully it will prove more reliable than Chrysler's other attempts at mixing plug-in and gasoline technology (specifically the Pacifica PHEV and the Jeep 4xe).
This truck has so much potential. daily driver on electric, towing without compromise, generator onboard for export potential. Ideal for the RV crowd, why put a genny and extra batteries on your RV when the truck already has them. Charge at the campsite for local driving. Its a no brainer.
Its also an ideal truck for farmers or contractors, this think has it all without compromise. Well done Stelantis. Vehicle of the year 2025.
Lets hope its not $100k
This would be perfect for RV trailer towing and boondock camping.
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has a specific definition of a hybrid vehicle, and this is a hybrid. There are many ways to "connect" the engine to the wheels, and it doesn't matter if it is mechanical or electric.
I wonder if someone can explain to me why this is such a hot topic? Everyone has a different view of it. Other institutions consider that this is not a hybrid while as you mentioned the SAE does. If the internal combustion engine directly propels the vehicle as does the electric motors, then most would say it would be a hybrid. In this case, the Ice motor is not directly propelling the vehicle forward. Only the electric motors are the connection from the ice motor to the wheels is such that it works as a generator producing electricity storing it in a battery, and then the electric motors draw the energy directly from the battery. Most would call that and EV with a range extending Generator.
That being said for all intents and purposes, there is no consequence of calling it a plug-in hybrid.
Even if the engine doesn’t actually power the wheels in any way and merely charges/recharges/powers the battery? What is the official SAE definition as I was unable to find it.
REX NOT HYBRID.
@@TristenHernandez exactly, I see it as the ultimate BMW i3 with Rex.
The engine is connected to the battery that it charges, and only needs to run when charging is required. The wheels are driven by battery operated electric motors. It matters.
Looking forward to The Ike towing test
Same. Even if you can get 65% of that range. It still puts it in a better range of most trucks in the class, without adding extra fuel tanks
Push to 10 k load or even the max for this truck let's see it climb
@@djfire1669 I'd like to see the towing test last long enough to deplete the storage battery, and see how much power it makes with just the motor/generator available.
@@CharlesAnsmanHighly doubt you will drain the battery. Quite sure the generator can keep up topping up an 80% full battery.
Dodge replied to my towing range question and they said at full towing capacity it'll get 250+ miles. I'm super stoked for this truck to come out.
This is absolutely the correct way to marry the two technologies. One drive drain that supplies all the power to the wheels.
Not two half-powered drive trains that each introduce complimentary points of failure.
agreed. But they should have chosen EcoDiesel for the generator, or if that drove the price up too much, a Cummins R2.8 4cylinder ... The diesel torque for generator is unmatched by gasoline motors.
@@jkhall3454 EXACTLY that would be the next step in evolution a Clean Burning 3.0L Eco diesel wow makes me excited hahahaha
@@jkhall3454 they are having so many issues with diesel regulations, and have already dropped it from a number of their vehicles. I think they are to avoid that in the future.
@@santiagohills3997 Now this was a helpful reply. Thanks for taking the time.
If you were building a generator based hybrid, how would you go about determining when to start generating? i.e. Do you simply look at a point of battery charge or do you look at current rate of discharge or...?
@@santiagohills3997 Parallel hybrids work very well paired with eCVT for durability, the downside is that maximum output cannot be sustained forever. The ford maverick and most toyota hybrids such as the Prius use this system. Good for daily driving, but not heavy towing
Love it! Keep up the Ramcharger detailed news, TFL and Andrey! Brilliant design and transitional implementation. We want this Ramcharger functionality here in northern Utah.
I promise you don’t this thing is gonna be trash just like every other stallantis product
@@THE_Tyler_Rogers I'd say that our family has really enjoyed reliable and "Stellar" Stellantis products, awesome Grand Cherokee Trailhawk as well as our Wrangler Rubicon 4xe -- Super capable in extreme snow and rock crawling on trails in silent ELECTRIC mode. Ramcharger will be similarly quiet on trails, simply sublime, I would imagine. I hope that Ramcharger has the adjustable air suspension, do you all think the air suspension will be available on Ramcharger?
@@THE_Tyler_RogersPipe down stupid
I can't believe that other OEMs aren't going this route or the route of the inline-6. I'm excited to see how it works out although I don't trust Stellantis for reliability so I will watch from the sidelines.
Yea the Ford Powerboost should have been this. As for the I6, meh, the ecoboost has been around for a long time. It's proven that a turbo six can do the job reliably so Dodge is following suit.
@@kobayashimaru8114 inline-6 cylinders have been around a long time. I'm not knocking the EcoBoost at all, but inline 6 engines are naturally balanced and usually produce a lot more torque than similar V6's.
@@RedWingsninetyone and a lot simpler no balance shafts, one intake manifold, one exhaust manifold, one head, one set of cams. plenty of room on the side to access stuff
some of the most notable engines of all time are an i6 : BARRA!!!, 2JZ, RB26, 1HZ, 1HD-FTE, 6BT. i got an old FJ40 with an original 2F its still going to this day and it gets well used to haul the diesel cart around farm.
in the industrial world the i6 and for smaller application's i4 and i3 dominate. I personally haven't seen other engine types in a industrial machine there all inline's from the little Cat C4.4 in Almand shakers to the MAN D42 in a Claas Lexion 8900.
I have very little interest in the REV with the Ramcharger as a possibility. Now to wait for pricing on a tradesman model
Probably $50-60k
Agreed and I imagine the REV will have a short run if they lean into producing the Ramcharger.
This is like the Chevy volt of truck EV’s into me that makes way more sense than a total EV truck because if your commute is less than 50 or 60 miles a day than the truck would essentially be total electric when you charge it every night and for the longer trips you just kick on The gas engine.
Exactly right. Once again, GM leads the world in developing a vehicle for the future (EV-1, Volt, Bolt) and then they cancel them and allow other companies to pass them by.
Had a volt engine drove the wheels once battery went dead. If the volt were SUV or truck and double the EV range I would have kept it. My knees did not like it being so low. Was a great car though.
Most volt owners really enjoyed their cars too. It's a shame GM cancelled it.
Agreed -- this is going to be the EV/hybrid variant that the majority of North Americans can and probably will migrate to from pure ICE vehicles -- the series hybrid, or EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) (not sure if the U.S. EPA has gone with EREV or REEV).
@@chiplangowski3298How are they passing them by when even the public is clearly aware that *gm* did this first? That means they’re the ones that introduced the industry to it. How do you take this comment that’s reminding folks an ole Chevrolet already has this philosophy implemented and then try to make it a bashing of *gm?* 🤡
Typical. All RAM did was copy what General Motors did years ago because they can’t afford to do what *gm* is doing right now with their fully electric _Ultium_ lineup of bespoke EVs. Let’s stop trying to change *gm’s* narrative, you were right the first time; *gm* continues to LEAD the pack and the charge, and it’s exactly what *gm* said they were doing when all the Tesla fanboys were triggered by the CEO’s comments a few years back. She was clearly telling the truth.
FINALLY! An EV truck that cares more about range than the 0-60 time!!! These things are going to sell really well!!
There have been plenty of series hybrids before... BMW i8 / i3. But this is putting that ideology in line with its strengths. Distance and towing. This appeals to a market segment that couldnt seriously consider EV before without making significant compromises. I will continue following!
The range is similar to my hybrid F-150 Powerboost. Almost the same size gas tank too. Ramcharger seems to have an advantage due to being able to plug in charge unlike the Powerboost.
Thanks for the coverage of the Ramcharger. This is the first vehicle in over a decade I have been genuinely interested in following and I believe it addresses many of the shortcomings and concerns from the working class with regard to EV adoption. Price and reliability in long hauls and back country work will be the determining factor when it boils down to wide spread adoption and I hope to grab the first used lease trade-ins in '27.
this bad boy definitely eating cybertruck and lightning for lunch.
Different truck altogether. Put a V6 generator engine in and it’s no longer an EV. This is a hybrid.
@@MagicNinja17 hybrid means can run on either engine or electric motor. this Truck is Range extender, which mean only using the engine to charge the battery, the sole power is still a electric motor.
@@rocknroller1 I’m not even going to begin this debate with you. Lmfao oh boy.
the only pickup truck with common sense, electric power,comfort plus fast refueling of gas truck, can’t wait to see this truck do a downhill towing test, I wonder how much regen is from the heavy load
The problem is it’s gonna cost $100k
.....yeah....
It an electric motor and a diesel engine inside it...100k is worth it when you compare it to the cyber truck or the rivian
I'm hoping less than 80k, but they are probably going to offer it in limited and higher trims only, at 1st.
This is awesome. This isnt a hybrid by any means. Its an electric vehicle with a generator onboard like Edison Motors is doing. The range will be amazing and not having to find a charging station will be awesome.
There are Ford dealers near me sitting with many unsold F150 Lightnings for months and most with $7,500 off MSRP. The Ram has to be competitively priced or they’ll end up sitting on dealer lots.
This has the advantage that the EV range isn't limited to just the battery so you'll just go pull your trailer with the generator proving the power needed.
Ford is a mess. 2024s on everyone's lots except Ford. Had a King Ranch on Order since day one, not going to lie. No one is getting deliveries of 2024s yet. I am really considering just canceling it and waiting for this. Just worried about pricing.
Dealer markups could be a problem as well
Nobody's gonna buy them, the Rams. Price too high
@@KarlBerlin
I'm buying one..lol.. Don't care how much it costs because it'll be one I'm keeping for a long time!! I can't wait!
This could be a perfect truck for RV towing - with the specs provided it would handle many of the travel trailers people buy and then can power them when you get where you’re going.
I have my order placed! But I am also glad that, in theory, there will be Tradesman models available.
Exactly looking at this hard as a future commuter on my 36 miles round trip to and from work and hopefully I lot more efficient when taking the camper on vacations
Yes but there is a big issue.
I have yet to see any EV truck (or part EV in this case) with a gooseneck or fifthwheel hook-up which any RV worth a damn has. Same for horse trailers.
I just dont know if under the truck bed allows for install of tracks for a receiver, gooseneck or otherwise
@@toonj64 to hard to find one of those that fit in most national park campgrounds since most only claim to have room for nothing bigger than 25 feet if you stay at jellystone Koa or thousand trails or most beach campgrounds then fifth wheel is the way to go and get a 35 to 40 foot and camp in luxury
Plus this truck isn’t out yet so it may have that option but then again most half tons have to get aftermarket anyway since they don’t come with a gooseneck fifth wheel hitch option like 3/4 ton and larger trucks do
Only the top trims will come with the hybrid tech and the cost of those will be in the 90 grand range. I'll stick with my 50k power wagon.
As someone that doesn't tow, my Rivian R1T is a great truck for me, with plenty of range, even on road trips. I'd really love to see how this performs on the Ike challenge!
This thing seems like it should be a huge success for Ram!
@@Countcho Since the battery is kind of half size it should not be too bad, I hope!
I really like the idea of having the v6 range extender in there. So you can run in EV mode just for commuting, and then when you need the extended range that v6 can just run at a constant RPM charging that battery, which is better for the engine and allows it to run much more efficiently.
But why on earth would it need a 6 cylinder to act as a generator? Wouldn’t a smaller lighter 4 cylinder be fine?
@@jagpilotohio a 4 cylinder would probably be ok, but to do that ram would have most likely needed to develop a new engine which ends up being a lot more expensive than using the pentastar v6 that they’ve had forever.
@@crt5866 stellantis uses a turbo 4 cylinder in the wrangler hybrid. Same parent company.
that's true, I forgot about that. Then I would guess that either the NA v6 is cheaper to produce than the 4 banger, or maybe it really is just a power thing. @@jagpilotohio
@@jagpilotohiotowing reasons.
Sounds like RAM might have made the perfect gateway truck for people to transition over to electric. Long range battery but a gas backup for those still worried about range. If it's priced right it should sell very well!
My thoughts exactly... if they can price it accordingly, it will probably show a lot of folks how little they would actually use the REX feature and by extension address their range anxieties. I would think many would be able to move to a pure EV after experience with this, except for the select few who often tow large loads long distances.
Yep. Most people want a truck for daily driving, but also for the occasional longer haul carrying/towing gear to someplace a bit remote. They don't have money/space/insurance for two cars and there's not enough charging infrastructure yet, so dropping a generator under the hood for those occasional situations fits the need perfectly. Brilliant!
Pricing really would be the big decider for me. I can do my daily commute for a few days on the electric range alone and I love the range since it works out to be what I get from a tank of diesel in my 3.0l.
I’m not sure this is so much gateway, as more of the only way to make EV’s remotely viable
@@ShippyJackIf it starts at 60k, its a good deal tbh, given the fact that people are buying F-150's lightning and cybertrucks
Been waiting YEARS for someone to finally do it. And it’s a Ram. I’ll drive my F150 for a few more years and give the Ram charger some time to get the kinks out. Then I’m all in. Miss my Rams.
Series hybrid literally means that the combustion power plant is not connected directly to the wheels. Diesel-electric locomotives have worked this way for many decades. It is silly to dislike the term that means the exact correct description of this vehicle.
A lot to consider here. Can't wait for the the truck to come out and see the TFL driving reviews. I have owned a 2010 Dodge Ram Laramie, a 2019 RAM Limited, and a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland all with the 5.7L Hemi. This year I bought a 2023 Mustang Mach E (GT Performance). My RAMs were great trucks. The Jeep Hemi has had some problems with the engine. The Mach E is fun and trouble free so far after 7,000 miles. The issue is range (250 miles) and charging infrastructure. Its not practical if you road trip much. It takes to long to charge and there are not enough charging stations. We installed a level 2 charger at home ($2,150) and mostly use the car for local commuting. We have only taken a few long distance road trips but this is where the cars range and charging infrastructure rose to our attention. Its a hassle. Ford vehicles can now use Tesla chargers (with an adapter). Future Ford electrics will have the Tesla NASC plug. I have requested the adapter (Its "Free" ships in Aug 24) for Tesla chargers. And so maybe our next road trip will be better. I hope the Ram Charger delivers the promise. It sounds compelling.
It will be interesting to see how this performs in real-world tests. How efficiently does it use gas when rechaging the batteries? What is the mpg equivalent.
The whole 28 gallons probably.
Series hybrids tend to be less efficient than parallel hybrids. I would expect it to be not very good.
Meh don't care drove a Volt and hardly ever turned on the engine with it's 58 mile range. The gas engine is just there for extended trips.
Yeah, I wonder how much power the generator can create.... If you deplete the battery, how much power does the gas engine put to the wheels through the electric conversion.
690-140 = 550miles/28 gallons = 19mpg which is really respectable considering the power. Power wise this has more horsepower and torque than any ICE or hybrid truck on the road
This is the 1st EV that actually catches my interest, because of the gas engine it comes with. I'm surprised by the cargo capacity though, that they are able to get 2,300 lbs as a starter (actual capacity will be around 1,600 - 1,700 after options) considering you're lugging around 28 gallons of gas AND 1,000 lbs of battery. Will be interesting to see how the build quality is on these. Ram has been killing it with the 5th gen trucks, so I'm hopeful they retain their high build quality into the 6th gen.
It is crazy to think the military had the RST-V back in the early 2000s and volvo had the recharge. Both were an electric drive system with generators that got insane performance and it has taken 20 years before someone actually put this concept into production. They need to make RVs and all manner of heavy duty vehicles this way. The 1500 is awesome, but show me the ram 2500/3500/4500 where I can haul a toyhauler or other 5th wheel.
This technology has been in production for many years now from BMW and GM
@@michaelfollett2562 I knew BMW did it with their I3 but they put such a small gas tank in it, it defeated the purpose. And the BWM was fugly and small. Which GM vehicle has an engine not connected to the drivetrain but generator only?
I think this has to be one of the smartest and best products for EV trucks period. Very well thought out and very competitive. Wasn't rushed to market. The only thing I'd be willing to bet that RAM does to shoot themselves in the foot on this is price. Given their other trucks, I wouldn't be surprised to see them over-priced by about 20%... But if they want quick and steady adoption, a competitive price would very quickly put them in the lead...
I don't think I'd want to give up the utility of having a frunk in a full size truck but if I needed the range, the Ramcharger would definitely be it.
I like it, and I'm not a even a "truck bubba". I think Stelantis may have a winner on their hands.
Why is the internal combustion engine so large? It seems like a 1.0 L engine would be lighter and more efficient to generate the electric
power.
Probably needs to charge a battery that needs to provide enough juice to 2 electric motors that produce 690 hp.
Cost first, reliability second. The 3.6 is a developed engine they can pull off the shelf and it will not be very stressed in this role.
No way... those engines need a lot of power!
@@mtnman1984 yup... you want lower end torque. I believe the generators typically run at around 1800 rpm
A 1.0L that makes 175hp?
The best way you can bring the best of both worlds together
Not a ram guy what so ever but I do enjoy this game changer
0:31 that's a hybrid.
But it's not, as the 3.6 v6 is not connected to the driveline. It's just a very large alternator, charging the batteries.
@psimmon that's exactly the description of a series hybrid, just like a locomotive
@@psimmonhow the wheels are powered is irrelevant. If you put both gas and electricity in it, it's a hybrid.
@@yissibiiyteit's called a series hybrid because the technology is 100 years old. If it was invented today we would call this an EV with a range extender.
@@bobman717 no its called a series hybrid for marketing purposes. its a hybrid truck.
I’m a Dodge guy myself I four of them absolutely love them. So 28 gallons of fuel and it can go 690 miles so pretty much it’s getting 24.6 miles per gallon. That’s what my Cummins gets.
Love this idea and the functionality from a travelling perspective, but man I am worried of the cost. I know we are a long ways out, but I can't see this (in basic form) being under 60k. This trim is pushing 100k in my eyes the way MSRPs are going...time will tell..
Early adopters are going to pay a premium. Agreed, the model shown looks 6 figures territory
Awesome truck, I had a Chevy Volt for 5 years, I sold it only because I hit my head on the A pillar daily😅😅
But, the only thing that prevents me from buying this truck is, I only want a regular cab, not a 4 door sedan with a 5 foot bed.
They don’t make regular cab anymore. They don’t sell as no one wants one
@@wyo_garage20 Oddly I must be the only one who still drives a single cab. Why drive to work with 3 empty seats every day and park outside? At least I park in the garage and can carry a passenger.🙂
@@HandyDan Yeah you are drastically in the minority. Fleets don’t even bother buying regular cabs anymore. Literally no one wants them. For every one guy that does, 300,000 don’t. It’s changed a LOT in 25 years🤣
Ram Charger > Cybertruck
As a part time farmer and full time commuter I couldn't move away from my 2014 EcoDiesel since it has the fuel economy I need to commute to the city for work but also the tow capacity to move lighter farm equipment around and haul a 3-horse gooseneck trailer.
I am VERY interested to see how the RamCharger plays out. I also used to own a 1985 Dodge Ramcharger so nostalgia got me good to think I can own a new Ramcharger even though it doesn't look anything like my old Ramcharger SUV.
If they get that 14,000lbs tow capacity married with 600 miles+ range and I can plug in at home and in the city well... That sounds like a truck worth replacing my EcoDiesel with.
That things gotta weigh about 9,000 lbs
and cost 80k which means almost nobody will be able to afford it just like all the Stellantis products that are bloated in price sitting on new car lots right now.
With two full sized motors, full sized engine, a battery similar in size to the F150 and an even bigger frame than a traditional 1500 i wouldnt be suprised to see this break 7500 or 8000
7100
I'm guessing around 7000 depending on trim though.
Hard NO
Since they are waiting until 2025 to release the truck, will it come with the NACS charging plug?
I love my hemi V8, I hate the government and companies pushing electrification. And I think this is a good solution, and possible big winner
not much for EV's but this seems like a much smarter approach, removed range issues and gives people options to top up at home or abroad, suprised they didnt just use a small 4 cylinder as the generator but whatever
Probably wouldn't generate enough electricity under heavy load
seems like a cummins generator would make most sense. Since it can run at constant rpm's
thats going to be something for RAM 2500, 3500 and up! i think by eliminating the gearbox and using only electric motors is going to significantly upgrade their capabilities. imagine a ford f450 or ram 4500 towing 40,000 lbs with extreme ease.
@@carholic-sz3qv nope a gearbox adds capability because of torque converters and gear ratios that's why they're starting to design gearboxes for EVs now
We truck with its own generator. What a camping beast. Battery goes low generator turns on for few . Dont need the generator on all night. Plus its in the truck so less noise.
So I need to charge and gas my truck? I also still need to change oil, plugs and coolant? Sounds awful
Relax. Most personal truck owners haven't been doing their fluid changes on time anyway. Let's not even talk about using the right octane. The same level of laziness will continue unabashed, as many will just fill it up and never plug it in.
Or, you know. Just don't buy it. Free country. Belly aching not needed.
there is nothing awful about this, you have no transmission, the engine is going to work in its optimal range and be way less stressed.... only just advantages considering the electronics will be reliable.
@@markcoopers1930 exactly! criticising it is not worth because its going to have a very great usability compared to full EVs.
They have an only electric option too
@@markcoopers1930 ... i have freedom to belly ache... especially on the internet. Typical "I believe in free speech, unless u say something i don't agree with." Don't worry though, I certainly wont buy this Frankenstein truck.
You left out the part that the battery alone only contributes 170 miles while 520 miles requires the gas engine. It's a hybrid
I have already put a "deposit" down on one of these. I hope to be ordering a Tungsten trim Ramcharger either late this year or early next year.
Me too!! I'm stoked!!
It took over 10 years, but somebody is finally putting the Chevy Volt drivetrain into a truck. If it had been Chevy, I’d probably be getting another Silverado instead of Cybertruck.
Gm and Allison make busses using this technology with a small duramax. Would be a great idea for them to make a silverado or sierra using that.
I have a 2014 Volt, and it really opened my eyes to how cheap it is to drive on electrons. This is like that, but with more electric range, and in capable truck. I think this might be a winner.
It’s a hybrid not an EV. Cool for sure but comes with all the ice vehicle maintenance
Maintenance will be less complicated because this car has no transmission, so it has fewer mechanical parts that can go wrong.
Not so fast - no transmission
That is incorrect, it's an EV.. the ICE motor is not for propulsion at all. Only Electric motors move the vehicle. The ICE motor is a generator for the batteries ONLY.
@@jkhall3454 If you have to put both gas and electricity in it its a hybrid m8
@@mcsike7264You could choose to not put any gas at all in it and it would still work as an EV, albeit with a shorter range.
Cops in 2008: Don’t text and drive
Every Car manufacturer in current year: how about a 14” display?
0:43 I do get that, but the phrase series hybrid is still the technically correct term for this kind of powertrain.
0:44 also, if the car went further on EV power than gas, it would be totally acceptable to call it a "Ram Rex" (short for ram range-extender and imo a solid 8 or 9 on the cool name scale), but it doesn't.... sadly.
RAM Rev looks good to me for its simplicity.. Nice job RAM coming out with some compelling products!
690 miles on 28 gallons of gasoline isn't that impressive. I have a ram 1500 ecodiesel with a 26 gal tank and I've driven 775 miles non stop without refueling before. I was hoping for better.
Most people drive their trucks day to day and will not need to use any gas or diesel doing that. Range in trips may not be as impressive as some ICE but it’ll make up for that in other aspects.
But what is the towing capacity of your truck? If the high-end trims have over 2000 pounds of payload and can tow up to 14,000 pounds, this is approaching 3/4 territory. To a point.
hybrid does not help highway efficiency...what it improves is the city drive efficiency.
@@mikahoIic tell that to a locomotive
Im digging on the new ram charger. Its looking good!!! Cant wait to buy one!!!
I’m excited for the RamCharger. I know it’s not really a Hybrid, but the gas engine for backup power/range is the reassurance I need to even consider an “electric” vehicle.
I hope Stellantis develops a Cummins Diesel Electric version of the RamCharger for their HD trucks! That would be 💯 the ultimate travel/work/tow truck.
The word "Series" in "Series Hybrid" indicates the engine does not drive the wheels directly. The Ramcharger is a Hybrid.
The powertrain is identical to a Prius in layout. If a Prius is a hybrid, so is the Ramcharger.
@@WildcatWarrior15 I believe the Hybrid Synergy Drive that is in all Prii is a Series-Parallel style hybrid. Meaning the wheels can be powered by eMotors, the Engine, or both. Whereas I believe the Ramcharger is purely a Series hybrid. They are distinctively different. There are very few series hybrid vehicles that made it to mass production. The BMW i3 REx is arguably the only example.
Technically true, although I doubt many people would get caught up in a label. What people will care about is that it is an "electric" pickup that should be easy to live with.
@@WildcatWarrior15 The drivetrain is not the same as the eCVT in a Prius. The standard Prius is a parallel hybrid and cannot move on EV power alone (mine only has like 20 EV hp) (the plug-in Prius is sorta just a scaled up version with a planetary gear set that can be electric only, but the motor can also output power directly to the wheels) As I understand it, the gas motor in the ramcharger cannot power the wheels directly. The "EV" drive train does
Finally, a true PHEV truck with good (100+ miles) electric-only range and excellent (600+ miles) combined range!! With the awesome horsepower and torque, towing and hauling capabilities, along with the backup/outlet power capabilities, the RamCharger definitely checks off what I was looking for to transition into the EV truck world. I’m interested to see what the pricing and trim levels are going to be. Until the EV Charging infrastructure grows and matures sufficiently and the battery storage density increases, I think this is a great option for those who want an EV truck and use it for more than grocery getter! Now, I just hope we can afford to buy one of these RamChargers!
Why does it need a V6 to turn generator? Wouldn't a small engine suffice? I would think, at most, a 3 cylinder would be able to provide the power to turn a generator. Just seems overkill.
That V6 already exists, is dead cheap and dead reliable. It can run at lower RPM which will use less fuel and make the engine last longer. A small engine would be stressed to make the same power.
Point I was making is how much power is required for a generator? You can get whole home generators with four or less cylinders. @chiplangowski3298
@@coreysmith2774 you are right, you don't actually need that huge generator. If you look at what byd offers (U8, leopard 5), the generator is usually 4-cylinder with 200hp-300hp and that's already enough for most cases. There are a lot of real world tests and proves that the generator power is enough.
Been in quite a few dodge/ram products for rentals. Have to say they are the easiest to figure out the infotainment and do things right in that regard. If they work out the bugs before release and don't rely on updates and recalls for development, like it seems they have on the 4xe stuff... This will be pretty great. Waiting to see what the GM camp can do when they dust off the Volt program books and hopefully didn't get rid of those engineers when they cleaned house. Yet to find a volt owner who didn't love it.
IMO, they should have use the EcoDiesel motor in it..
Modern diesels with emissions add on components are expensive.
The vehicle is for people that tow and road trip occasionally. It’s meant for the suburbanites with trailers and boats they need to drag across the country.
If you need to really tow a lot, then just get an actual diesel and forgo the expense and weight of the battery.
yes, but for generators, Diesel has much greater torque, and that is preferred for generators, along with lasting a lot longer than gasoline engines and reliability under constant load.
In the contract, they put a v6 Gas engine in for the generator to produce the power/torque needed for the generator. Diesel could have generated much more torque with a 4Cyl
like the Cummins R2.8 with 310lb torque, and they are MSRP retail 10k. phenomenal engine.
@@TJPavey
Check out the Cummins R2.8 and look into generator comparisons: gas vs diesel.
The price of the R2.8 is already in smaller Stallantis vehicles, so the price is comparable. Reliability is better than the penstar. Torque is superior, and after all, Generators benefit from instant torque. and range would be greater as the 4cylinder Diesel would produce more power to generator for every gallon of fuel. @@TJPavey
The emissions garbage makes that untennable and I say that as someone with loves his eco gladiator
@@TJPavey I'm not sure....if you tow everyday, let's say to a jobsite, this would work out well. Presumably you'd charge it everyday at home (I hope employers are ready to compensate employees for their power costs!) and then you'd be able to tow maybe 60 or so miles on all electric power. That'll save a few bucks a day on fuel. This has a 92kWh battery, so at $0.15 per kW, that's $13.80 in power, to go 140 miles (non-towing) or 60 miles (towing). Since the capability numbers are right up there with a Ram 2500, let's compare against the 2500 Cummins. It would need about 6 gallons of diesel to do that. At 25 miles per gallon, and $3.30 per gallon, that's $19.80. So the diesel ends up being about 40% more expensive. Don't forget to factor in DEF though, so that'll make the price difference even more.
Finally a hybrid truck that looks worth it. Was looking at the ford lightning but range and towing were a deal breaker. This looks very promising
That's the way to go, but I'd say some sort of 1.6L- 2.0L i4 would have adequate performance, better fuel economy, and less weight for this use.
Your right. You as A keyboard warrior know much more than the engineers that do thus for a living.
@@Joeblk10 Thank you for the compliment, but the reason they use this engine is simply economical because they already have it in their portfolio and know how to use it. Anyway, you sound like a knowledgeable person, so it shouldn't be that hard for you to do the basic math. The efficiency range of an ICE engine is known, the efficiency of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy is also pretty clear. So my question to you, how many kW should an engine have to be a sufficient range extender when the truck is towing ?
Pretty sure Dodge went with the V6 because it was a convenient, simple, relatively inexpensive powerplant that is low-tech.
@@Dqtube
Great question!
It depends on:
- How hilly is the area you are towing?
- Are you able to access the generator while the State of Charge is still around 50%
If you can fire up the generator early, you should never have a problem.
...unless you are racing up 14,000 ft Pikes Peak with a maximum payload, and demand 70+mph speed at the finish line😮☺️
that's exactly what those chinese ev makers are doing.
Love the features and design! Almost 700 miles of range is really great! I bet this truck will be expensive though like most EVs.
With my $40k in student loans 🎓 the thought of taking out an additional $50k loan for a shiny new truck seems like a recipe for disaster. The folks are broke and that's no joke.😅
closer to 80k my dude.
Shouldn't buy a new Corolla, let alone a truck. Save for a few years and be patient, trucks will still be on sale once the finances line up.
this is actually my dream setup for a truck, but I feel like the price will be nuts especially up here in canada.
Call it what you want. This is a gasoline over electric truck. As an electric it is an EV lugging around an IC engine. If you never charge it you have a series hybrid. Love it or hate it. That is what it is. Should be a great towing truck with all that electric torque and power.
Why would anyone spend more money on a car with a battery and never charge it? Why not just buy a car with an ICE instead ? I'm sure there are individuals with damaged egos who just want to show they can afford to spend more on something, but the average consumer.
@@Dqtubeunfortunately, most plug in hybrids never get plugged in. People unfortunately do not use the vehicles as intended. From early guesstimating, this Ram Charger will only get around 20 mpg while running on the generator. Sad, because most people will never plug it in and use it properly.
@@Dqtube because phevs qualify for incentives
@@moarpwr4414the 8000 lb truck with 700 hp will only get 20 mpg? So the same as a 5.7 that weighs 2500lbs less and has half the power?
You may not like the term series-hybrid but then you go and explain how the truck works using the very definition of series-hybrid. If the engine was directly connected to the wheels then it would not be a series-hybrid but a parallel-hybrid.
I really hope the programming of this truck is done in such a way that it gives the driver control over how and when it charges the battery. I can think of many different use cases for this truck and it looks like it may be what I have been wanting for the past 15+ years. Hope it is successful.
I am going to have a vegan dinner. With a 20 oz porterhouse steak.
Grass did power that beef so indirectly vegan? 😃
This is the only ev truck that actually makes sense, would this truck be able to replace my 98 dodge 2500 cummins? 14k towing is very close to same capacity. Very interested.
Same logic: Outlander PHEV is electric as well now? Bull
Outlander is a parallel hybrid, this is an ev with a generator
@@bobman717 if you want to go into details: only above around 45/50 mph, below that speed car is powered only by electric motors and ice is providing power to the battery
@@krzysztofiwanowski5308 your engine is connected to your drive train, this truck doesn't do that
Im glad they went with the proven pentastar motor rather than the turbo 4 or eco diesel... and im a diesel fan just not italian ones
Expensive, overly complicated vehicle that still burns gas and generates emissions. How much less fuel does this burn compared to a conventional gas or diesel truck?
Depends on how you use it. If you charge your vehicle like an EV you could rarely ever use the gasoline engine. If you never plug it in and only fill the gas tank, you'd get only slightly better economy than a gas truck.
For this truck to make sense you really need to use it in battery only mode (i.e. shorter trips) most of the time and have a home charger, which is probably true for many truck owners. I drive a Volt mostly, with a Chevy 1500 as my weekend warrior / vacation getaway vehicle. Potentially this vehicle could combine both use models for me... if I didn't mind commuting in a truck. If you run it mostly on longer trips and don't charge it often... it will get LESS miles per gallon than a conventional gas/diesel powered truck because of the conversion losses going from mech engine to electric to battery and back (which is why other manfacs didn't go the series route... yet anyway)
As a hardcore GM guy, RAM is doing this shit right. Can’t wait to see how these do
Off the topic, I’m glad that the interior seems almost identical to my 2021 Ram 1500 limited. Love the PHEV approach!
Imagine if they put a 4cyl diesel as a generator, it would have a 1000 mile range.
The fact that the engine doesn't directly power the wheels is what makes it a series hybrid. It's the same as a train locomotive which is a series hybrid.
The funny thing is, this technology is old. Heavy equipment and locomotives have been running with ICE-electric powertrains (sans batteries) for many decades. I love that they’re using the venerable pentastar V6 for the generator. That engine is reliable as a hammer. Finally, EV tech that makes sense. This beast is the best of all worlds. I think it’s going to be a huge hit if the price is right.
Very impressive the engineers came together to redesign an all electric truck, then slap the pentestar v6 as a generator/extender, sound like the industries optimal solution has surfaced, not to mention it aligns with Toyotas 1:6:69 analysis
Pricing is very important. If the MSRP is $75k or more plus dealer markup. Its a non-starter for most. They should use a 4 cyl diesel as the generator vs the 3.6.
Really like that they are offering trim packages, and not just shoving the "TUNGSTEN GRADE LAUNCHING FOUNDERS EDITION" at us with leather cupholders for an extra $50k. I'm expecting the RamCharger to be a bit less expensive than the RAM REV as it has half the battery and one of Stellantis' most common engines.
This is probably the best setup for a truck . EV truck with gas range extender. Amazing. And well done. Now just make it affordable and you got me.
I still love gas/diesel vehicles and will always own them. However this is the first proper attempt of putting a decent concept together for a truck that actually could work in the real world.
A Series hybrid is exactly what this is though, including the gasoline engine being disconnected from the wheels. It’s connected to the generator, and the wheels and batteries in a … series connection.
Everyone who has ever purchased a stellantis product......"I wish it had more electrical components!!!" Im willing to bet it will work flawlessly for at least a week.
The power output is great, and it looks cool, but that’s about where the positives stop for me. It’s a technology packed Stellantis product (reliability…) - a $60k-$100k truck that gets 25 mpg
I really wonder what number would it have reach with the eco diesel instead of the v6
No kidding! 1000+
I really like this concept, but I do have one concern. If you’re only driving short trips within the battery range, would the engine even start up? Say you commute 20 miles to and from work and you charge it at night, then would that cause problems because the engine ends up sitting unused for weeks or months at a time? I think it would be smart to have the engine start up and get to operating temperature at least once a day when you drive it. Maybe even a function where after you stop, it will run the engine to recharge while it’s parked. Hopefully, they have considered this problem and have a solution.
It works a bit like a diesel-electric train. About time someone did this.... The only thing that could improve this package is if they did a diesel powered version for the 2500. That truck would be unstoppable.